DISCLAIMER: I do not own FFX, FFX-2 or any of the characters and locations affiliated with it. I do, however, own the story "Silver Wings" and all references to dialogue not originated by Square-Enix.
DO NOT COPY MY STORIES!!
If anyone wants to post this story or "Silver Wings" anywhere else, please just ASK and then give me credit for writing it. Email akksgurl@yahoo.com with any requests.
Author's Notes: Just note that I do not own the chapter title of "One More Last Chance". That is actually the title of a Vince Gill song. Anyway, as all of you probably realize, Shuyin has completely taken over Tidus now. Shuyin is going to pretend to be Tidus for most of the story and, although the others notice his strange behavior, they don't think it's any stranger then the way he had been acting. This chapter will follow Shuyin and his plans as well as Baralai.
SPOILER: Also, I was asked if it was called the Cave of Woe or the Den of Woe. To be honest, I'm not sure. I'll be calling it the Cave of Woe. For future reference, I am referring to the location of the Crimson Squad massacre in the Crimson Spheres as well as the place that you can enter to find out more about Shuyin and Lenne's last moments together.
SILVER WINGS 2: 1000 CONFESSIONS
by akksgurl
Chapter Seven: One More Last Chance
In the week that followed, no one had noticed that Shuyin was not in complete control of Tidus' body. In fact, they were all so busy focusing on getting supplies and men that it was far too easy for Shuyin to formulate his plans without interruption. That particular morning, Shuyin lay on his side as the sun came in from the large bay windows behind the bed on which he slept. Sunshine on his skin was a simple pleasure he would never take for granted again. He felt a hand running softly over his back and for a moment he thought it was Lenne until he rolled over and saw Yuna's eyes gazing lovingly at him.
Correction, she was staring at Tidus.
Shuyin was greatly relieved she had assumed he was asleep when she had joined him in the bed the night before – as had been custom for the entire week. The sleeping arrangements were something that he hadn't considered when he decided to completely take over Tidus' body in order to complete his plans. He hadn't even considered how long he might have to pretend to be the man she was in love with before his plans were finalized. However, he would have to think about these things now. He couldn't give Tidus control again because now the dream of the fayth knew too much. He couldn't risk letting Tidus spill the beans to Yuna.
"Good morning," Yuna whispered as she snuggled closer to Shuyin's bare chest. He felt himself tense and forced himself to calm. It had been 1000 years since a woman had pressed her body against his like this and he wasn't used to it. However, as Yuna snaked her arms around him, Shuyin let himself smile a little. She felt just like Lenne in his arms and if he didn't know better, he could have closed his eyes and let himself believe that his beautiful Lenne was in his arms again.
He ran a hand lazily through her hair and whispered, "Good morning."
Technically Lenne was in his arms again. Shuyin was shocked when he reached the Farplane to discover that the female he believed was Lenne was actually an apparition that had come from the songstress dressphere. His Lennie was still in Spira. His Lennie was Yuna, the same little bitch that had destroyed his attempt to annihilate Spira. However, Shuyin was now grateful for that. He had no idea at that time that Yuna was Lenne and by annihilating Spira, he would have murdered Lenne. He was grateful to Yuna for stopping him.
The songstress dressphere that was the main focus of his new plan held Lenne's memories and feelings so when Yuna used it; she was given a glimpse into her life with Shuyin 1000 years before. However, she didn't realize what she was seeing. This was a good thing for Shuyin. This meant that Yuna wouldn't be onto his plan until it had already been carried out.
Yuna slowly extracted herself from Shuyin's arms and stood up, strolling slowly toward the chair where she had deposited her clothes the night before. Shuyin grinned to himself as he noted her black panties and bra which was all she had worn to bed. He could definitely get used to this view. As she slipped her hot pants on, she turned to him, "I've got to go with Gippal, Baralai, Paine and Rikku this morning to finish rounding up the supplies and men we'll need. Did you want to come with us?"
Shuyin shook his head, "I've got my own errand to run." He replied with a wink. He had decided the night before that it would be best for him to make Yuna think he was working on a surprise for her. Well, technically it was a surprise, just not one that she would particularly like.
"What kind of errand?" Yuna asked with a smile as she hooked her side skirt over the shorts.
"It's a secret." Shuyin replied in a hushed tone. When Yuna's eyes shone with excitement, she really reminded him of Lenne and as the former summoner crawled closer to him on the bed, Shuyin gently kissed her lips. Everything about her – even her kiss – was so different from Lenne and yet so similar at the same time. Shuyin didn't know what to think or say as he distanced himself from her. She seemed disappointed that it ended with a perfunctory kiss, but that was all Shuyin could bring himself to do. She didn't love him and he didn't love her. He was pretending to be her boyfriend for the time being and she was reminding him of his girlfriend. The sudden desire he had to flip her beneath him was based solely on that.
Yuna smiled at him as she slid across the bed and let her feet slam against the floor in her knee-high boots, "I've got to get going." She said, "You sure you don't want to come along?"
"I'm sure." Shuyin replied.
"Okay," Yuna said with a shrug, "I'll see you later."
"See you later."
With the beautiful brunette casting one more look over her shoulder at him, Shuyin counted to twenty before climbing out of the bed and pulling Tidus' clothes on. Tiptoeing silently down the stairs, he managed to sneak past Barkeep without the blue alien noticing. His next move was to make sure that YRP and their two blonde companions had actually left already.
The bridge was silent when Shuyin arrived and he saw out the front window that all five of his companions as well as Brother and Buddy were making their way toward Home's main building.
Excellent…
Making his way to 'Shinra's Spot', Shuyin was thrilled to see that Buddy hadn't moved Yuna's songstress dressphere from its spot on the chair. Lifting the plastic ball, Shuyin gently broke the two halves apart and gazed down at the diamond. It was the perfect size for Shuyin's plans. Removing the diamond from its perch, Shuyin slipped it into his pocket and closed the sphere again, replacing it on the chair.
Next stop…Home's marketplace.
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"I've finished researching those skulls for you." Shinra said. Baralai was really surprised that the Al Bhed child had finished so quickly, but he noted that no one else seemed shocked and he realized that quick work must have been this child's trademark.
"What have you discovered?" Yuna asked.
Shinra placed a finger over the sieve like opening to his mask and made a "shh" noise, "Let's discuss it in the conference room." He said.
Suddenly Baralai got a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Just the way Shinra said "Let's discuss it in the conference room." made him think that the little child had discovered something that they weren't going to be too thrilled about. Following behind Rikku and the others, Baralai noted the way Rikku held close to Gippal's side as they walked into the conference room and he frowned. There had to be something he could do to make her forget about Gippal.
The conference room looked pretty much the same as it had a week before except for the fact that there were several spheres sitting on the table ready to be played against the screen. Shinra had also lined the skulls up facing the direction that Baralai and his friends would be sitting.
The child had definitely found something.
"Have a seat," Shinra said, "and we'll begin."
Rikku sat with Yuna on her right but when Baralai made to sit in the chair on her left, Gippal snuck in and plopped himself down next to the perky blonde with a confident smirk directed at Baralai. Rikku didn't seem to notice and went about asking Gippal why he wasn't wearing his belt. With a frown, Baralai sat down next to Paine, farthest away from Gippal, and decided to sit and stew. There had to be a way to get Rikku to forget about Gippal. There just had to be.
Shinra walked to the other side of the table directly opposite the group and lifted the first skull. His finger went over the bullet hole and he said, "I will start by introducing you all to President Reiber Ackmard of Bevelle."
"The president of Bevelle??" Yuna repeated, confused.
"Yes," Shinra replied, "Official records state that he and his daughter left Bevelle during the war with Zanarkand, but…" his fingers played at the bullet hole again, "I suppose he didn't make it too far."
Rikku shuddered, "He was murdered..." she scooted a little closer to Gippal and asked, "Well who killed him?"
"Well, no one even knew he was murdered until just now." Shinra replied, "However my money is on a man named Benedict Cyton. He was Ackmard's general and he became president after Ackmard and his daughter vanished."
Yuna's eyes focused on the female skull that was next in the line that Shinra had set up. Pointing to it, she asked, "Is that his daughter?"
Nodding, Shinra lifted the skull in his hands, "Yes. Let me now introduce to you, President Ackmard's daughter, Allyn."
A silence went through the room and Baralai was sure that the world had stopped. The look on Yuna's face was one of a stunned person. Rikku was the only one that moved and it was to put a hand on Yuna's shoulder. With a tremble in her voice, Yuna whispered, "Did you say…Allyn?"
"Yes." Shinra said simply, "Do you know that name?"
"You could say that." Yuna answered and at Shinra's inquisitive look, she explained about Tidus calling LeBlanc by that name. Her shaking hands couldn't be stilled even as Rikku and Paine each grabbed one to hold them down. With tears forming in her duel colored eyes, she asked, "What does it mean?"
Shinra sighed as he pointed to the final skull, "I think it connects to this skull somehow, although I'm still not who this skull belongs to."
"But I thought you said you were finished researching." Said Gippal.
"I've done as much as I can with this skull." Shinra replied, "He's not in any of Bevelle's files and the Zanarkand files are incomplete at best. I do, however, have a good idea of who he is."
Yuna's voice squeaked as she spoke, "Who is he?"
Climbing down from the chair on which he was perched, Shinra pulled the screen behind him down to the floor and then climbed back onto the chair to reach for the middle sphere, "I found this while I was searching old newspaper records. Bevelle had a very interesting article and picture that I think tells us who this man was." He stopped short of starting the sphere to look at Yuna, "Are you sure you want to see this. It might upset you."
Yuna nodded, "I want to see it."
Shinra pressed the button and an old newspaper article flashed on the screen. Quickly shifting the sphere, only the headline was visible as he read it aloud, "Allyn Ackmard and boyfriend celebrate Zanarkand Abes blitzball victory over the Zanarkand Duggles."
Baralai felt a tightening in his stomach. Somehow he knew what would happen when Shinra raised the screen so that the picture would be visible, but when it actually happened he wasn't ready.
Allyn Ackmard was a beautiful girl who looked to be about 16 in the picture. Although her blonde hair was longer, there was a definite resemblance to LeBlanc. Her eyes dance in the picture as she smiled with her head leaning affectionately upon her boyfriend, Zanarkand Abes star…Shuyin.
Shinra sighed and read the photo's byline, "Allyn Ackmard and boyfriend Shuyin Bacohl celebrate at Irvine's Tavern after he led his team to victory over the Duggles."
"NO!" Yuna shouted suddenly, ripping her hands away from Paine and Rikku to pound them repeatedly against the wooden table, "NO! NO! NO!"
"Yunie! Stop!" shrieked Rikku as she grabbed her cousin and forced her to sit down. Yuna's breath came out in ragged sobs as Rikku gingerly rubbed her back. Baralai could understand Yuna's upset and anger. Everyone knew that Tidus was acting strangely, but to suddenly realize that their greatest fear as to the reason was true….
Baralai let his mind wander to the strange behavior Tidus had been emitting since his return to life. One minute he seemed fine and the next he seemed completely crazy. However, Baralai believed Rikku when she said she didn't think he was possessed. His behavior would have been much different if that had been the case and as Baralai's eyes caressed the skull now identified as Shuyin's, Baralai formed the question that had been bothering him since they had followed Tidus, "Why would Tidus go to the Cave of Woe looking for a skull? It doesn't make sense."
"The same reason," Gippal said with a smirk, "that you suddenly think you're a lady's man."
Baralai was suddenly on his feet and storming over to Gippal who also rose to his feet, "Do you have something to say to me?"
"Yeah, actually I do."
"Then say it!"
Gippal leaned closer to Baralai until his breath was hot on his face, "I find the way you pant around her disgusting. You're pathetic."
"I'm pathetic!" Baralai said, incredulously, "What about you and you're little 'look at my belt' action. That was truly pathetic."
"Well at least I don't pant after something that I don't stand a chance with."
Baralai narrowed his eyes at Gippal and the blonde Al Bhed did the same with his good eye. Neither said a word to the other as both let their barbs sink in. Finally, Baralai hissed, "I don't pant, my friend. Panting is for dogs and that is exactly what you are…a dog."
The fist came out of nowhere and Baralai couldn't duck in time before Gippal's fist came crashing into his cheek, spinning him around with the force of the blow. Although the embarrassment of being knocked off his feet in front of Rikku wasn't something Baralai particularly wanted, the sudden realization that she was by his side on the floor to see if he was okay made it perfect.
"Gippal!" shrieked Rikku as she tentatively ran a finger over Baralai's cheek, "You're such an idiot!"
"He had it coming, Rikku!" hissed Gippal back at her.
Rikku shot Gippal an angry glare, "You're just lucky that I'm too nice to give you a well deserved ass kicking."
Gippal threw his hands in the air in an exasperated move, "I'm so sick of this, Rikku. Are you interested in him or not?"
"What's it to you if I am?!" she shrieked back.
Gippal glared first at Rikku and then at Baralai before he leaned closer to the blonde man and hissed, "Stay away from her or you'll regret it."
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"How's this setting, sir?" the jeweler asked Shuyin as he lifted the diamond which was now mounted upon a solid gold ring.
Shuyin grinned and accepted the ring the jeweler handed him, "This is perfect." He stated as he looked at the glittering jewel. Buddy had said that without the plastic covering the power of the jewel was unknown and Shuyin hoped that it would do exactly what he needed it to do.
"Well Sir Tidus, I'm confident that Yuna will say yes." The jeweler said, "Good luck."
Shuyin shot the jeweler a tense smile and quickly turned to walk away. He kept forgetting that he appeared as Tidus to everyone. He also frowned at the thought that the portly man thought he was going to propose to Yuna. The only person Shuyin wanted to propose to was Lenne, and this ring was his only way.
It was a mile walk back to the ship and it was one that Shuyin was very deliberate in executing. He didn't want anyone to know that he was back at the ship. He needed to get into the ship without others noticing for fear they'd find the ring upon his person. No one could know about the ring until he was ready.
Luck was with him that day and when he reentered the ship everyone was gone. Buddy had left a note saying that he and Brother had gone to Home and wouldn't be back until late. Shuyin also knew that Yuna and her crew wouldn't be back until that evening which gave Shuyin plenty of time to plan his next move.
Casually strolling into the crew quarters, Shuyin was pleasantly surprised to find that Barkeep had also left the premises which meant that he was completely alone. He climbed the stairs two at a time and then sat down on the nearest bed to gaze at the ring again. It would fit Lenne's …. correction, Yuna's finger perfectly. Everything was going according to plan.
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Baralai couldn't believe that he was on an Al Bhed airship flying to the Cave of Woe when he should have been spending time with Rikku, milking the punch for all it was worth. He just couldn't fight the feeling that Tidus hadn't been looking for skulls and needed to find out what he really had been looking for. He had lied to the three females, saying he was going to look for Gippal. They had believed it and gone off to finish hunting for supplies.
The ride was bumpy, but short, and before Baralai knew it he was back at Mushroom Rock Road looking down the precipice that contained the cave. He sighed. He needed to do this, not only for Rikku but for Spira as well. Finding out what Tidus was up to was the most important thing right now.
The door to the cave was still ajar from their last visit which was a mere two weeks before, although it seemed so much longer. Baralai shoved the door open a few more feet with his shoulder and stepped into the cave. The stagnant air filled his throat first and he almost turned to leave, but forced himself to stay. This was important. He couldn't back out. Traveling slowly to the back of the cave where Tidus had crawled about looking for "it", Baralai dropped to his knees as well and felt around in the dark secretly praying not to discover any more skulls. Memories of the massacre of the Crimson Squad flashed through his mind and he forced himself to breath steadily. Being in the Cave of Woe wasn't exactly his idea of a nice way to spend the afternoon. He knew he had to hurry since the Al Bhed pilot was impatiently waiting in the airship, but he also knew that if he rushed he could miss what he was looking for…
He gasped. His hand brushed something cold in the dark. Steadying himself, Baralai brushed his hand casually in the opposite direction and brushed the cold object again. He gripped it in his hand. There was a large object and it had a chain connected to it. Unsteadily standing, Baralai ran into the light that shone from a hole in the roof of the cave and held the object beneath it.
It was a locket in the shape of the Zanarkand Abes' symbol. Tentatively opening the locket, he frowned and realized that his worst fears – everyone's worst fears – were true. Inside was a picture, yellowed with age. It showed a beautiful girl sitting with a smile on her face while her boyfriend had his arm over her shoulder protectively.
The boyfriend was Shuyin.
Filled with a new kind of urgency, Baralai slipped the locket into his pocket and rushed from the cave and back toward the airship. He needed to get back. He had been right. Tidus…no, Shuyin hadn't been looking for skulls. He had been looking for the locket. The only question that remained now was, if Shuyin was the one in the cave then…where was Tidus?
The landing back at Home was bumpy and Baralai didn't even thank the pilot as he rushed from the ship and fairly flew back to the Celsius. Due to the setting sun, Baralai could see Tidus' outline in the crew quarters as the blonde paced back and forth seemingly talking to himself. He then noted that the trio of females were coming over one of the sand dunes carrying three separate bags. Gauging their progress and the lack of Gippal nearby, he assumed that they still thought he was with Gippal and were taking their time. Baralai's eyes went back up to the Celsius' window and he gripped the locket in his hand. Making sure that the girls didn't see him as he climbed onboard the airship, Baralai entered and made his way back toward the crew quarters.
This was Shuyin's last chance to destroy Spira and it was Baralai's last chance to make Rikku notice him. Gripping the necklace harder, Baralai smiled to himself as he came upon the door.
He knew just whose chance ended here.
